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As you walk around the old towns of the Valencia region, and Valencia’s historic center, you might notice the cherubs first. They are at eye level, and are the most common drainpipe faces (Caras del Agua). They come in two sizes…small and medium. Many are painted basic black. Others have had glasses, a clown’s nose, or a spray of colorful paint added. Quite a few are slowly rusting away.

Decorative drainpipe faces reached their height of popularity between 1880 and 1930. Their origins have been somewhat clouded by time. There are people who will tell you they were logos used to brand two competing regional metal works. Others say they were used to ward off evil spirits.

With some assistance from fellow expats I discovered an article by Ismael Belda from Alicante. The article confirmed that Caras del Agua can also be found in the Alicante region. Alcoi, Elx, Biar, Denia, Aspe, Novelda, and Alicant are home to drainpipe faces. In Valencia they are found in El Carmen, San Roc, in the San Francisco district, around the Central Market, and the San Anton neighborhood. I found a few in Oliva’s old town and am convinced they must exist on old buildings throughout the Alicante and Valencia regions.

The branding theory loses a little steam when you realize the cherubs have a lot of company. It has been estimated there are between 16 and 18 unique designs. This doesn’t account for designs that haven’t appeared on lists. I found a figure with a voluminous wig, and a parrot that hadn’t been noted. A fellow expat provided photos that included five new designs. I am still looking for the mouse man, a lion man, and new discoveries.

The mystery that eluded me was finding where Caras del Agua had been manufactured. After more reading I believe new designs were produced by the two large operations as well as smaller foundries. New designs were used to gain and keep customers.

The large factories with the capacity to mass produce decorative drainpipes were la caldereria de Tomas Aznar y Hijos/Ingenieros Constructores and la firma metalurgica Jose Rodes. It is possible smaller foundries handled special orders. Competition drives innovation and creativity. The beauty and variety of the Caras del Agua are a product of this.

A Google search didn’t turn up information about modern foundries reproducing Caras del Agua. They might be out there, but as old drainpipes rust, and their buildings are updated or leveled, unadorned drainpipes are being used. My favorite find was a drainpipe face peeking out of new plasterwork. She had been valued, and was preserved for at least awhile.

Perhaps you will notice the drainpipe cherubs first. Maybe you will find an overlooked design, or that mouse man! You will definitely find yourself on streets you didn’t know were there, or walked by without really noticing.